You don’t have to look far for an opinion about why DC Films and the current DCEU is a disaster (outside of “Wonder Woman“). Everyone has their theory about how and why Warner Bros. has bungled some of the most iconic superhero characters of all time in films that have missed the mark on almost every possible level. Now, comic creator Mark Miller (“Kick-Ass,” “Kingsman: The Secret Service“) also has a few thoughts about where it all went wrong, however, you might be surprised by his perspective.
Chatting with Yahoo, Millar says that he believes that DC superheroes themselves are simply uncinematic. Aside from Batman — who is a regular dude, with an tool belt and garage full of gadgets — almost every major character in the DC Comics canon is almost absurdly invulnerable, and who they are aren’t based around characters, but their abilities. At least according to Millar. Here’s what he had to say:
I think it’s really simple — the characters aren’t cinematic and I say this as a massive DC fan who much prefers their characters to Marvel’s. Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman are some of my favourites but I think these characters, with the exception of Batman, they aren’t based around their secret identity they are based around their super power. Whereas the Marvel characters tend to be based around the personality of Matt Murdock or Peter Parker or the individual X-Men, it’s all about the character. DC, outside of Batman, is not about the character. With Batman, you can understand him and you can worry about him but someone like Green Lantern, he has this ring that allows him to create 3D physical manifestations and green plasma with the thoughts in his head but he’s allergic to the colour yellow! How do you make a movie with that? In 1952 that made perfect sense but now the audience have no idea what that’s all about.
People will slam me for this but I think the evidence is there. We’ve seen great directors, great writers and great actors, tonnes of money thrown at them, but these films aren’t working. I think they are all too far away from when they were created. Something feels a little old about them, kids look at these characters and they don’t feel that cool. Even Superman, I love Superman, but he belongs to an America that doesn’t exist anymore. He represents 20th Century America and I think he peaked then.
I’ve gotta hand it to Millar, I’m not a fan of his work, but his perspective here is pretty interesting. Thoughts?
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Marvel’s character’s for the most part seem to have more real world problems and are a little bit more grounded in reality. And he’s right about DC’s heroes, except of Batman, seeming invincible. Even Hulk has to worry about changing back into Banner and when he does he doesn’t really want to change back into the Hulk.
IMO Thor is the Marvel hero that most closely resembles a DC hero. He’s extremely powerful and he doesn’t have any real world problems to deal with, and his main villain, Loki, is more interesting than he is.
I have great respect for Miller, but his theory is completely upended by the huge success DC has had with its television lineup on the CW – the characters all have personality, and The Flash in particular has had us hooked for years. It’s not that they don’t have cinematic characters, it’s that they’re not being translated to the big screen well, by writers that often don’t seem to have a handle on what the fans want. Perhaps putting someone like Greg Berlanti in charge of the DCEU the way he’s handled the DCCW universe with style, substance, and charm is the way to go for the future.
But don’t put Greg Berlanti in charge of the DCEU.
But there’s a difference between Television and Cinema.
That difference may be shrinking but it still exists.
In fact, on a story telling level, an episode of television has much in common with an issue of a comic book.
I get you’re coming at it from the personality and charisma perspective. Not denying that. I’m coming at it from the “cinematic” part he mentioned.
Ridiculous. It may have started so, but we have decades of literature to append their character. This is just saving from blame the writing, directing, and acting.